lämpöshokkiin

Lämpöshokkiin is a Finnish term that translates to "thermal shock" or "heat shock" in English. It refers to a rapid and significant change in temperature, particularly when an object or organism is subjected to extreme heat or cold in a short period. This sudden temperature fluctuation can cause physical damage or stress.

In materials science, thermal shock is a phenomenon where a material cracks or fractures due to rapid temperature changes. This is often caused by differential thermal expansion and contraction within the material. For example, heating a cold glass mug can cause the inner surface to expand more rapidly than the outer surface, leading to stress and potential breakage. Different materials have varying resistance to thermal shock, depending on their thermal conductivity, thermal expansion coefficient, and mechanical strength.

In biology, thermal shock can refer to the stress experienced by living organisms due to sudden temperature extremes. Organisms have mechanisms to cope with temperature fluctuations, but extreme or rapid changes can overwhelm these systems. For instance, a fish suddenly moved from cold water to warm water might experience thermal shock, leading to physiological distress or even death. Plants can also suffer from thermal shock when exposed to sudden frost after a warm period or vice versa. The term is also used in the context of heat shock proteins, which are produced by cells in response to elevated temperatures to help protect them from damage.